Food safety is especially important during pregnancy.
Foodborne illness can be caused by eating contaminated food. It can affect everyone, but it can be more serious for you and your baby when you are pregnant.
During pregnancy your body changes. This includes how your immune system works. These changes may make you more likely to become sick, and certain diseases may cause more serious illness for you and your baby.
Foodborne illness can make your baby sick before and after birth.
Eat Safely, Eat Well is a series of health information materials about food safety during pregnancy.
The materials cover what to eat during your pregnancy, ways to keep food safe and avoid listeriosis (a bacteria that contaminate food), foods to avoid and safer alternatives and safe food handling guidelines.
- Kirkham C, Berkowitz J. Listeriosis in pregnancy: survey of British Columbia practitioners' knowledge of risk factors, counseling practices, and learning needs. Canadian Family Physician 2010; 56(4):e158-66.
- Taylor M, Kelly M, Noel M, Brisdon S, Berkowitz J, Gustafson L, Galanis E. Pregnant women’s knowledge, practices, and needs related to food safety and listeriosis: A study in British Columbia. Canadian Family Physician 2012; 58:1106-12
